FEATURE Concorso d’Eleganza JAMES HEADS OFF TO THE SHORES OF LAKE COMO, ITALY, A POPULAR RETREAT FOR ARISTOCRATS AND THE WEALTHY SINCE ROMAN TIMES, FOR THE AMAZING CONCORSO D’ELEGANZA VILLA D’ESTE Words and photos: James Nicholls HOLLYWOOD ON THE LAKE he Concorso d’Eleganza and Bugattis; opulent automobiles Villa d’Este, held every year at (From Manhattan to Mayfair), of which the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este surely none was more luxurious than the on the shores of Lake Como, gold-plated 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom, was first held in 1929. Then, seemingly touched by the hand of Tthe movie industry was still in its infancy King Midas or the Ian Fleming character and the Great Depression was beginning Auric Goldfinger himself; and stunning after the Wall Street Crash. This year, 89 art-deco grande routières, exemplified by years later, it celebrated perhaps two of the the 5.5m long 1936 Lancia Astura Serie III 20th century’s most important socio-historic or the beautiful Bugatti Type 57 Atalante events — the arrival of the automobile and from the following year, named after the its relationship with the cinema — and was Amazon hunter from Greek mythology. entitled ‘Hollywood on the Lake’. GT cars were in abundance, with Villa d’Este, built in 1568, was wonderful and exotic specimens from the originally the summer residence of great marques Ferrari, Bentley, Jaguar, Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, becoming a and Aston Martin, from the pens of the hotel in 1873. Since then, it has always great coachbuilders Mulliner, Vignale, been a destination for aristocrats of Europe Pinin Farina (which became Pininfarina partaking in the ‘Grand Tour’. In the only in the 1960s), and Scaglietti. 20th century, as today, it became the meeting For the first time, too, Formula 1 point for the internationally famous, many was a featured class at the Concorso, of who became so almost overnight by dint designated by the risqué title ‘When of their exploits on the silver screen. For this Sex Was Safe and Racing Dangerous!’ reason, the hotel, to insiders, became known Here were single-seaters, or monoposti as as ‘Hollywood on the Lake’. they are known in Italy, which had been driven by those who hold a place in the Style and purpose pantheon of piloti such as Stirling Moss, The 50 cars featured in the Concorso Harry Schell, Jean Behra, Luigi Musso, this year were divided into a variety Luigi Villoresi, Juan Manuel Fangio, classes according to their style and Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jo Bonnier, purpose: pioneering racing cars (The Wolfgang von Trips, Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Titans), including venerable Alfa Romeos Ronnie Peterson, Andrea De Cesaris, 38 New Zealand Classic Car | themotorhood.com themotorhood.com | New Zealand Classic Car 39 One of my favourites in this class and, indeed, the whole extravaganza was the gold 1965 Ferrari Superfast Gerhard Berger, and Alain Prost. Hayworth’s present from her ex-husband Prince Some of the most interesting cars, though, were in Aly Khan (who was to die at the wheel of his a class entitled ‘80 Years of Automotive Archaeology’. Lancia Flaminia GT aged just 48) in 1953 was a Here were cars that have amazingly avoided the similarly coloured Cadillac Series 62, the first car ravages of time without need of restoration. Foremost ever to feature twin headlights. Also a gift was among these was the incredible 1913 SCAT the 1958 BMW 507 presented by Elvis Presley (Socièta Ceirano Automobili Torino), which was to his co-star Ursula Andress in the 1963 film in the family of its first owner for 104 years! Other Fun in Acapulco. It was later purchased from the worthy ‘relics’ were the 1954 Fiat 8V still sporting captivating actress by a king of another kind, its lustrous turquoise paintwork and the cute 1958 George ‘King of Kustom’ Barris, who added its Fiat 500 Spiaggia, of which only two were made cool bumpers. by coachbuilder Boano. One of these beach cars Fittingly parked next to Ursula Andress’s BMW was owned by Aristotle Onassis, and this one by was one of her co-star’s chariots. Apparently, there Giovanni Agnelli, who utilized it at the world’s most were six Aston Martin DB5s used in the making expensive villa, La Leopolda, in Villefranche-sur-Mer of the early James Bond films, but only one of on the Côte d’Azur. them, the one on display here, was driven by The Concorso d’Eleganza’s original raison d’être Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball. was to showcase the latest new cars, and this still Also in this group of ‘film stars’ was the jet- exists today with the Concept and Prototype class age-looking Lancia Stratos Zero. Created by — Flavio Manzoni’s Ferrari SP38 coupé drew Nuccio Bertone, legend has it that he drove the lots of attention from one and all, as one might wedge-shaped sled under the barrier at the factory expect in Italy, and Ferrari’s head of design told gate when he delivered it to Lancia — at its me that he had created this one-off for a major highest point, the car stands at just 84cm. It did international art collector who wanted his motor not appear in film, as its owner would not release car to represent his life in art. it, but a replica was made especially to appear in Michael Jackson’s fantasy Moonwalker. Stars of the Silver Screen One of my favourites in this class and, indeed, It was the Stars of the Silver Screen class, the whole extravaganza was the gold 1965 Ferrari though, that truly encapsulated Hollywood on Superfast. This five-litre beauty, capable of 280kph the Lake. The 1939 Delage D8-120, which I was the Earls Court Motor Show car and first had last seen earlier in the year in India at the owned by none other than Peter Sellers. Sellers is 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally well known for his taste in beautiful women and and Concours Show, appeared in the 1951 beautiful motor cars, and this was one of his most movie An American in Paris with Gene Kelly treasured, owned when he was at the height of his behind the wheel. Another dancer/actor, Rita fame for comic genius and married to Britt Ekland. 40 New Zealand Classic Car | themotorhood.com themotorhood.com | New Zealand Classic Car 41 Fantastic cars in a fantastic setting. Great fun was had by all, topped off by boat rides on classic rivas and a fancy- dress ball for ‘the insiders’. The theme was, of course, Hollywood on the Lake, with the inspiration being Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Both were filmed in part at the enigmatic Villa del Balbianello (built in 1787 and formerly the home of gentleman explorer Guido Monzino) and not a stone’s throw away along the water’s edge. 42 New Zealand Classic Car | themotorhood.com A third film theme for the ball was Ocean’s Twelve, which, for the location of The Night Fox’s villa, utilized Villa Erba, erstwhile home of film director Luchino Visconti, and, on the Sunday, where the Concorso cars were on show to the public. Let us not forget, too, that the protagonist of the Danny Ocean series, George Clooney, also has his own villa close by on the shores of this, the most glamorous and deepest of all of Europe’s lakes. 44 New Zealand Classic Car | themotorhood.com.